The Supreme Court has recently taken action against yoga guru Ramdev and his partner Acharya Balkrishna for their deceptive advertising that promoted Patanjali’s medical products. This time, Ramdev and Balkrishna had to issue a more extensive apology in major newspapers since the court was not pleased with their first one.
Supreme Court Demands More Prominent Apology
The size and placement of Patanjali’s prior apology advertisements were questioned by the Supreme Court during a hearing on the contempt proceedings pertaining to the deceptive advertisements. “Is the apology the same size as your advertisements?” Justice Kohli said sharply. The court was concerned that Patanjali’s earlier apologies would not have been as prominent as the company’s usually big product promotions and this contrast brought that worry to light.
New Apology Takes Center Stage
Ramdev and Balkrishna agreed with the court’s order by releasing a more extensive apology ad. They offered a “unconditional apology” in this latest statement for “disobeying the directions of the Supreme Court.” They also promised not to make the same mistakes twice.
A History of Unfounded Claims
Prior to the Covid-19 epidemic, Ramdev and Balkrishna had submitted an inadequate apologies to the Supreme Court for their deceptive product ads for Patanjali. In response to a plea by the Indian Medical Association, the Court ordered Patanjali to stop running any ads that purported to heal any of the conditions listed in the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954.
Patanjali Ayurved filed an affidavit in response to the Court’s condemnation, expressing regret and making it clear that their goal is to encourage a better lifestyle without demeaning mainstream medicine. The Supreme Court had earlier in November 2023, ordered Patanjali refrain from making false statements degrading contemporary medicine and Patanjali had promised to abide by this order.